The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-04-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Notes on the Lesson for April 10
Joseph Exalted"

1
eight to forty eight Time, H. C. 17l6, thirteen
years after the events of last Lesson Place,
in Egypt, at the capital city, Memsldn or
Heliopoiis, or Ga.
| SPECIAL MENTION
Egypt. Egypt is a rainless land. The winds
| lon the east and come in over the suf-
face of dry deserts; those from the south lose
the mos ,ure winch they bring from the south
| ern ocean as they pass over tue mountains OF
Abysslnla and Central Africa; and those
| from the north encounter dry, warm atmos-
phere resting on Egypt which expands them
drinks up their moisture aud prevents ram
all The fertility of the land depends, there
| fore, upon the overflow of tho Nile; and all
summer crops are matured by irrigation. A.
IA consequence, the narrow strip of lowland
along the b inks of the Nile is all that Is till
abe. 1t was the river which, in Gods hand
caused both the seven years OF plenty and the
seven years of famine. tMcGarvey)
On (also called Aven (Ezek xxx. ID and
Heliopolis). One of the oldest cities of the
worlo, and the principal seat of Egyptian sun
worship, 1t was near the site OF the modern
| Cairo. 1t has been in ruins for twenty cen
| turtles, and nothing but lone obelisk sixty
six feet high marks the spot 1t was noted
! for its culture. It's Hebrew name was Beth.
shemesh (house of the sum- The Arabs now
call II Ain Sherus fountain of the SUM- In
| its glory, the great temple of Ra, with Its
| 1000 priests and attendants was the most
famous shrine of Egypt Here 1T was that
Moses was instructed IN all the learning of
Egypt
Signet Rings. Great importance was at
tached to the signet ring, which contained the
owners name, and tue impression of which
was of the same validity as written signature
is among us. Hence the gift of this royal sig
net ring was a transfer of royal authority 10
Joseph. The value and Importance attached
10 the signet ring are referred To IN Jer. ~: "A
and in Hag. q 20 Some valuable specimens
of ancient signet rings have been found by
antquaries One of the most remarkable of
these il now in the Abbott Collection of Egyp-
an Antiquities, IN the Museum of the New York
| Historical Society. Ii is in most excellent pres
ervation and of very high antiquity, bearing
the name of Shoofoo, the Suphis of the Greeks,
| who reigned before the time of Joseph. IL was
found in tomb at Glzeh, and is OF fine gold,
weighing nearly three sovereigns. Cooks
Comp. Quar-
CHdriOt& Chariots are frequently mentioned
| in the Bible, as instruments Of war and as car
riages of state. The Canaanites are spoken of
III Josh. L. Is and Judges l: 10 ana f. 3, as
having chariots of iron perhaps armed with
iron scythes) The Phllistines in SauPs time
J had 80, coo chariots q Sam. IL: 5) David took
1000 from the King of Zobah e Sam s: ~,
and the Syrians, in order TO cope with Israel
| collected 81, 900 Il Chr 10: y. Before the He
brews were fairly weaned from Egypt they
were not allowed TO multiply horses" lest
they should return (Deut II: l6); but David
and Solomon found it necessary for the safety
of the kingdom, to provide their armies with.
horses ana chariots of war. Solomon main
tanned force Of l. 400 chariots q Kings 1920.
| (Erdnljaerl
Zaphnath- Dadneah 1t was not unusual in
ancient times TO give new names to persons on
particular occasions. Bush.) Zaphnath
tSeph-Hdtm Is he who receiveth Meth, l. e.,
the inventrix of the art of weaving, ana the
goddess of wisdom. Pddnedh This name
actually occurs in tomb at Sacchara, the
name of one of the princes of Usercheres,
about $50 years before Josephs time, l'dh-
noech Its import also corresponds exactly
with the occasion on which it was given. Il
means, he who flies from (avolds) pollution,
especially adultery. So that the first name
conferred by Pharaoh upon Joseph commem-
GRATED the divine wisdom to which he owed
his exaltation, and the second his innocence of
the crime for which he had so long suffered
Imprisonment (Osburn.)
Famine in Egypt Osburn, in his @Monu-
mental History of Egypt" thinks that the
cause of the seven years of plenty was the
bursting of the barriers land gradually wear
ing them away of "the great Lake of Eth
opIa," which once existed on the Upper Nile,
thus bringing more water and more sediment
to Lower Egypt for these years And he
shows how this same destruction of this i'm
mense sea would cause the absorption Of the
waters of the Nile over its dry bed for several
years after, thus causing the famine. The
most remarkable famine was that of the reign
of the Fatimee Kaleefeh, El-Mustansirbilah
which Is the only instance on record Of
one of seven years duration in Egypt
since the time of Joseph "a. ID. 1O64-101D
This famine exceeded in severity all others of
modern times Vehement drought and pesti-
lence, says a contemporary writer continued
for seven consecutive years. CIV. Smith
This famine was so severe that dogs and cats
and even human flesh, were eaten. All the
horses of the caliph but three persisted, and
his family had TO fly into Syria. Another
famine scarcely less severe took place in
Egypt in A. ID. 1i99. (Rawlinson's Historical
illustrations
Rank Of the Priest. In Egypt "the priests
and military men held the highest position in
the country after the family of the King, and
from them were chosen his ministers and con-
fidential advisers, the wise counselors Of
Pharoah' lisa 10: III, and all the principal
officers of the state " Wilkinson, Vol l. D.
they were exempt from taxes; they consumed
no part of their own income IN any of their
necessary expenses; and they had one Of the
three portions into which the land of Egypt
was divided, free of all duties" I'd, 3l9)
TOPIC AND OUTLINE.
We have a striking picture of the prosperity
and promotion of Joseph. IL will be interest
ing to seek out Q) the source of his pros
perity, GU it's conditions, CD Its occasion,
~ its previous discipline, (5) the right use OF
it. As explanation of its prosperity, we see
Q) the royal favor, CT personal worth
aud character, and CD the divine purpose
and choice His conduct in prosperity is
noteworthy, namely C) faithful 10 his master,
C2) preparation for the future, C3) grateful ac-
acknowledgement of God, az generous ministry
to the needs of others
SEED-TRUTHS AND GERM THOUGHTS.
|. How we alk dependent on one an
otherl ". 3S)
.. There is plenty of men; but is there a
2 mani ". 3S)
3. The survival and arrival of the fittest
w. 40l
T. Religion is the best equipment for the
duties OF life ". 800
3 Josephs thirteen years in Egypt were
training years, his college course, including
departments of hard service, isolation, sacrI-
flee, loss OF reputation, imprisonment and
manifold affliction.
g. Truest and speediest promotion comes
from careful fidelity to- present duty.
e. God will honor tho-e that honor him.
& Fidelity in little things brings preparation
aud capacity for great duties and trusts.
q God uses all persons, all events, all thing
overriding even the caprices, preiudices and
sins of men to the accomplishment of his pur-
poses
10 In times of prosperity and plenty pre-
pare for adversely
IL. The office seeking the man, not the man
the Office w. 43)
- Necessity of preparing for the future
as.
IL. Jesus Christ the great provider for every
human need ". 49,